Bootle FC U15 Blue 0 vs 1 AFC Kirkby

We cam in todays game full of confidence after our last fixture against Springwood where we triumphed and then a good futsal session after a postponement the Saturday before.
Tom Marlowe was missing due to his birthday but Benny was back and still injuries to a few others but the squad was looking strong and if we work hard, stay disciplined and play to our strengths we should come out ok.

There was an incident before the game that interrupted the warm up and caused us not to have the best chat and get the lads warm and focussed as much as usual, this definitely affected us in the opening minutes of the game. (no excuse by the way just a fact)

The whistle blew and instantly you could tell that we were not at that the races with sloppy passes, not many first or second balls won and just generally off the pace. Within minutes we gave away a silly corner, which we didn't get organised quickly enough on, incorrect bode shapes and not coming for the first ball saw us leave a man on the far post to head home. Only minutes later did we start to wake up and get into the game.

I'm not going to go into the halves too much but from fifteen minutes into the first half it was now all Bootle with us being up against eight defenders but credit to Kirkby they defended like demons for the rest of the match but still created enough clear cut chances to put the game to bed and claim the points.
I would say that that about four or five of those chances were situations were we should've scored but the calmness and the quality didn't seem to be there. Personally feel that this was down to conceding early and we always looked like chasing the game, this affected our composure and decision making in the final third and in front of goal. If we had not conceded that early goal or equalised early on i'm convinced it would've calmed us down and gave us the impetus to go and win the game but we didn't credit to Kirkby.
I have to be proud of the lads too though cause we never gave up looking for the equaliser and the amount of times we got past eight men bodes well for the future but it wasn't to be and we will learn from it and go again.
The referee also waived away two clear penalty claims for us one was a pull on Thomas Myers in the box and another a hand ball.

0-1

Today's loss will have to be parked and learned from, mainly due to starting the game well this including the warm up which will take us into the game and when coming up against a big solid defence to move the ball more quickly and dribble less to give us the opportunity to get in behind and have a shot on goal, we'll all go away and learn though i'm sure, i have so much confidence in this group of lads.

Melling up next in the cup, so its onwards and upwards and up the Bucks.

MOM : Kieran gets the vote today, composed as normal, played in two positions and always looks to do the correct thing at every opportunity.